How to Know You're Buying a Quality Oil Separator
Posted by JLOSC on 2025 Sep 16th
A quality oil separator keeps oil vapor out of the intake, keeping valves cleaner and maintaining your engine's performance and efficiency. The right unit fits your car without modification, withstands daily driving, and is easy to service.
Air Oil Separator Buying Guide
Fitment precision
A good separator fits the car as it sits, with no cutting, guessing, or hunting for odd adapters.
- Vehicle-specific kit: Hoses are pre-cut to the correct lengths and follow factory routing. They clear heat and moving parts.“Universal” kits that expect trimming and trial-and-error are a red flag.
- Factory-style connections: Quick-connects or barbs match the engine's sizes. Fittings push on cleanly and lock in place.
- Clear instructions: The installation guide, or better yet video, clearly shows the exact installation process on the vehicle the oil separator is for.
What to expect in the box
A complete kit ensures a clean and predictable installation. Expect these parts to be included in the box:
- Catch Can assembly with fittings pre-installed.
- Vehicle-specific hoses and fittings
- Brackets, fasteners, and clamps that match the hardware grade on the car
- Step-by-step installation directions
Manufacturing standards
Build quality shows in small details. Use these quick checks to tell a solid can from a knockoff.
- Choose a can that's machined from a single block of aluminum. The one-piece body has even walls and strong threads, so fittings hold tight and the can does not warp under heat.
- Surfaces inside the body should feel smooth, not rough or sandy.
- Quality oil separators are thoroughly tested for proper airflow and inspected for leaks before shipping. Avoid parts with visible casting lines, pinholes, or sharp burrs.
Signs of a Good Quality Oil Catch Can
The Brand
- Is the company a reputable brand?
- Easy to find installation documents or videos.
- Lifetime Warranty - Inferior products typically may only offer up to a one-year warranty.
- Responsive customer service and technical hotline.
Seals and hardware that hold up
- Quality O-rings that tolerate heat and oil.
- Anodized or powder-coated finish to fight corrosion.
- A solid mount that does not vibrate loose.
Practical service features
- Bottom drain or easy remove-and-empty design.
- The capacity is sized for the engine and how the car is driven, so emptying is simple and infrequent.
After Installation on the vehicle
- Stable idle, and no check engine light after install.
- No oil mist around fittings.
- After a few weeks, the can shows captured oil while the intake tract stays cleaner.
Shoppers often search for the best oil catch can. Start with build quality, fitment, and service design. Many claim to be the best, but check the customer reviews.
Read More: Signs You May Need an Oil Separator Even If Your Car Is Stock
FAQs: Oil Catch Can Quality Checklist
What makes a quality oil separator?
Look for a solid build:
- Billet aluminum body with clean machining
- A filtered inlet
- Properly rated hose for the application, an incorrect hose will swell or dry rot in a short time.
How do I check fitment before I buy?
Confirm the kit is vehicle-specific:
- Clear instructions or videos with part numbers
- Brackets and hose lengths matched to your model
- OEM-style connectors and clamps that lock cleanly
What kind of company should you buy an oil catch can from?
A reputable company will often:
- Have customer service phone numbers and emails that actually respond
- Have installation videos of their products on your vehicle
- Offer a Lifetime Warranty on their products
- Have a great reputation in the market
What service features make ownership easy?
Simple checks and draining save time:
- Low-maintenance design
- Straightforward draining method
- Capacity matched to your engine and driving style
What should the car do after installation?
Regular operation confirms a good seal:
- No vacuum leaks
- No warning lights
- Lines and fittings stay dry
What are the red flags for cheap knockoffs?
Skip kits that have the following:
- Pitted cast body or rough interior walls
- Thin brackets that bend by hand with cheap hardware that easily strips
- “Universal” kits that need cutting and extra hardware that’s not supplied
- Short warranty or none at all, no customer service phone number
- If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.
The J&L Difference: Lifetime Warranty
J&L Oil Separator Co. backs each separator with a lifetime warranty and responsive support should a part fail down the line. Explore the full lineup and find a vehicle-specific air oil separator. Call us at 757-842-6497.
